Which term describes the process of breaking dormancy by placing seeds in a moist environment and refrigerating for 10 to 12 weeks?

• A. Hardening
• B. Scarification
• C. Pre-germination
• D. Stratification

Answer: (D)

Cold stratification is the process described. It breaks seed dormancy by keeping seeds in a moist environment while exposed to cool, winter-like temperatures for an extended period, typically around 10 to 12 weeks. This cold, damp period signals the seed that winter has passed and prepares the embryo to germinate when warmth returns. For successful stratification, keep the seeds in a damp medium (like peat or sand) inside a bag or container to maintain humidity, and refrigerate them so the temperature stays just above freezing. After this chilling phase, sow the seeds in a warm, bright location so germination can proceed more uniformly. This approach is common for many temperate-tree and perennial species.

Scarification, by contrast, weakens or breaks a hard seed coat to allow water uptake, not the cold-damp treatment described here. Hardening refers to making plants more resistant to outdoor conditions, not dormancy breaking. Pre-germination is not the specific winter-mimicking process used to overcome physiological dormancy in these seeds.